Ctjetis h



F. H. LEINWEBER.` DECD.

c. H.I w. H. AND v. H. LEINWEBEH. ExEcuToHs.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE. ANPLICATION FILED Nov. 6, 191s.

Patented JuneP 8, 1920.

UNITED S'IArrs FREDERICK H. LEINWEBER, 0F CHICAGO, LLINOIS; CURTIS El. LEINWEBER, WILLIAM H. LEINWEBER, AND VICTOR H, LEINWEBEB. EXECUTORS 0F SAID FREDERICK H.

LEINWEBER, DECEASED.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Julie S, 1920.

Application led November 6, 1916. Serial No. 129,870.

To all ywhom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK H. LEIN- wnnnr., a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in internal combustion engines and more particularly to ignition systems therefor, the object of the invention being to provide an improved ignition system for such engines arranged and adapted to promote combustion therein, and especially to facilitate the combustion of different kinds or grades of fuel therein.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed. f

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a vertical section of an engine, embodying my invention,

Fig. 2, a horizontal section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1, v

Fig. 3, a partial section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. l, f

Fig. 4, an enlarged section taken on line 1 4 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 5, an enlarged section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 3. Y

The preferred form of construction as illustrated in the drawings comprises a closed crank case 7 having a comparatively large cylinder 8 formed integrally therewith, as indicated. A piston 9 operates in cylinder 8 and is connected by means of a connecting rod 10', with a crank shaft 10, as shown. The cylinder 8 is provided with air ports 32 in the wall thereof and an adjustable plate 33 whereby one or more of said ports may be opened to admit air to the interior of said cylinder for compressing said air upon each stroke of said piston. A smaller cylinder 11 is arranged coaxially with the cylinder S and a combined piston cylinder 12 is arranged to reciprocate therein. The piston cylinder 12 is connected by rods 13 with the piston 9, said rods passing through suitable stufing boxes, as shown. A stationary piston 14C is arranged within the piston cylinder 12, the same being mounted on a hollow stem 15 fixed to the head of cylinder 8, as shown. The piston cylinder 12 carries a rod 16 having sliding electrical contacts 17 embedded in beds or strips 18 of insulating material, said contacts 1T contacting with similar contacts 19 embedded in insulation strips 2O in stem 15. Cylinder S piston 9, cylinder 11, cylinder piston 12 and piston 11i are provided 'with cooperating ports and passages (not shown) whereby charges of three different kinds of fuel are prepared and forced into the outer operative end of cylinder 11 for operating the engine.

The strips 19 are supplied with sparking or igniting electric current through wires 21 extending through a suitable bore or passage provided in the head of cylinder 8, as shown, and a plurality of spark plugs 22 are arranged in the head of piston cylinder 12 and electrically connected with the strips 2O by means of wires 22. In order to effect proper timing of the spark plugs 22, one end of the crank shaft 10 is made hollow and a block 23 of insulating` material is arranged in a wall thereof, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 5. A metallic block 24 is em'- bed'ded in the block 23 and carries a leaf spring contact 24. The block 24.- is connected by means of an electric conductor 25 with a block 26 also of insulatingA material and has rubbing` Contact with a head 27 swiveled in the head 26 and supplied with currentl through wire 2S. A semi-circular contact member 29 partially embraces the crank shaft 10 to contact with the leaf spring 24e and is connected by means of wires 29 to supply sparking current to the wires 22. The arrangement is such that in the operative stroke of the piston cylinder 12, the spark plugs 22 will be continuously operated which facilitates the combustion in the cylinder 11, particularly if fuels of different grades or kinds, such as gasolene, kerosene and crude oil are employed. The cylinder 11 is provided with a cylinder eX- tension 30 substantially conical in form and extending well into the upper end thereof, said cylinder extension being provided with a plurality of spark plugs 31 as shown. rPhe spark plugs 31 are arranged substantially on a spire-helical curve so as to occupy different strata in the cylinder 12 to facilitate combustion therein, and particularly in the combustion of different grades of fuel, such as gasolene, kerosene and crude oil, ,said fuels tending to arrange themselves in the cylinder in diiferent strata, the arrangement being such as to provide sparking means in each strata.

I have illustrated the improvement in a form of engine, fully set forth and Adescribed in certain copending applications for patent filed by me No. 127,291 `filed October 23, 1916, and No. 129,871, filed November 11, y1916, but obviously the same system may be employed in any desired form of internal combustion engine.

The spark plugs 31 are all shown as connected with one Wire and one source of electric current, Ibut if desired, the spark plugs may be connected with different sources of electric currentJ thus providing great .flexibility :in the ignition system.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into eiiect, this is capable of variation and modification Without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not `Wish .to be limited to the precise dctailsof ccnstruction'set forth, but desireV to avail myself of such variations and modifications `ascome Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with an internal combustion engine having a `cylinder and a piston of an ignition system therefor arranged to .ignite continuously a charge in the cylinder `throughouttheoperative stroke thereof, and in different strata thereof, comprising one or ,more :spark plugs mounted .on said piston to move therewith, substantially `as described.

2. An internal combustion engine comprising acylinder; a cylinder Vhead extending thercinto; and a vplurality of spark plugs on said cylinder head extension in different strata in said cylinder, substantially Ias described.

33. An internal lcombustion engine comprising a cylinder; a cylinder head extending into said cylinder; spark plugs on said 'cylinder head extension; a piston lin said cylinder; one or more spark plugs on said piston; and means for operating 'the spark plugs on the piston continuously throughout the full operative stroke thereof, substantially as described.

1. An internal `combustion engine comprising a cylinder; a substantially conical cylinder head extending into said cylinder; spark yplugs on said `cylinder head extension, said .spark plugs Vbeing arranged `on said extension on a substantially spiro-helicalcurve in different strata in said cylinder, and

" means for operating the spark plugs on tlie cylinder head extension continuously throughout the operative vstroke ofthe piston, substantially 'as described.

5. An internal combustion engine ccmprising ya cylinder; a .piston operating in said cylinder; a piston Yrod for said Vpiston; a hollow-stem surroundingrsaid piston rod; slidable electric contacts in said stem and piston `rod insulated therefrom spark ,plugs on said piston electricallyr connected with the contacts in said piston rod; and vmeans for 'supplying electric current to the contacts in said stem, substantially as described.

v6. In an inter-nal combustion engine having a cylinder and piston, an ignition system arranged to ignite-'continuously throughout the operative stroke lof the piston a charge in the cylinder, in different strata thereof, substantially as described.

`In testimony whereof I :have signed my name to this specification in the presence of twvo'subscribing Witnesses.

FREDERICK H. LEINIE'BER.

XVitnesses;

JOSHUA R. I-I. Porfrs, HELE-N F. Linus. 

